FAITH THAT EXTINGUISHES FIERY DARTS

FAITH THAT EXTINGUISHES FIERY DARTS

By Rev. Samuel Arimoro

Main Text: Ephesians 6:10-18

Key Verse: “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” — Ephesians 6:16 (KJV)

Supporting Texts: Hebrews 11:1-6; 1 Peter 5:8-9; 1 John 5:4; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Romans 10:17; Matthew 4:1-11; James 1:2-4.

Description: This message teaches believers how to use unwavering faith in God and His Word to overcome the spiritual attacks, temptations, doubts, fears and accusations of the enemy.

INTRODUCTION

The Christian life is not a life without battles. Although Jesus Christ has given us victory through His death and resurrection, believers must understand that the enemy continually seeks to weaken their faith, destroy their confidence in God and hinder their spiritual progress. This is why the Apostle Paul instructs the Church to put on the whole armour of God so that we may stand against the schemes of the devil.

In Ephesians 6:16, Paul introduces the shield of faith as an essential part of the believer's spiritual armour. He describes the attacks of the enemy as “fiery darts of the wicked”. In ancient warfare, soldiers used shields to protect themselves from arrows and other weapons. Some arrows were dipped in combustible materials and set on fire before being released. If such arrows landed on an unprotected soldier or entered a vulnerable area, they could cause serious injury and spread destruction. The shield was therefore necessary for protection. In the same way, faith protects the believer against the spiritual attacks of Satan.

The fiery darts of the enemy may come in the form of fear, doubt, temptation, discouragement, condemnation, confusion, false accusations and thoughts that contradict God's promises. These attacks are intended to weaken our confidence in God and make us abandon our position in Christ. However, God has provided a spiritual shield that can extinguish every one of these attacks. When our faith is firmly established in God's Word, we can overcome the enemy without surrendering our convictions. The question is not whether the enemy will attack, but whether we will stand in faith when the attacks come.

1. UNDERSTANDING THE MEANING OF FAITH

Faith is the foundation of our relationship with God. Christianity is not built on human speculation, feelings or physical circumstances; it is built on confidence in the living God and His revealed Word. Faith enables us to trust God even when we cannot see the outcome of what He has promised.

Hebrews 11:1 declares, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Faith gives spiritual assurance concerning what God has promised, even before those promises become visible in our circumstances.

a) Faith Is Confidence in God's Word (Romans 10:17)

The Bible says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Faith is not merely positive thinking or an optimistic attitude. Biblical faith is confidence in what God has said. It begins when we hear, receive and believe the Word of God.

The more we expose our hearts to Scripture, the more our confidence in God's character and promises grows. A believer who neglects the Word of God becomes vulnerable to the suggestions of the enemy. But when God's Word fills our hearts, we develop the spiritual conviction needed to resist falsehood.

Practical Application: Develop a consistent habit of reading, studying, meditating on and confessing God's Word. Do not allow social media, negative reports or human opinions to become louder in your heart than the Word of God.

b) Faith Trusts God's Character (Numbers 23:19)

The Bible declares that God is not a man that He should lie, neither the son of man that He should repent. Whatever He has spoken, He has the power and faithfulness to perform.

Faith does not depend only on what God can do; it also rests on who God is. We trust Him because He is faithful, truthful, unchanging and dependable. Even when circumstances appear contrary to His promises, His character remains unchanged.

Abraham believed God despite his old age and the apparent impossibility of having a child. His confidence was in the One who had made the promise.

Practical Application: When you face situations you cannot explain, remind yourself of God's faithfulness. Do not measure God's ability by the size of your problem.

c) Faith Believes Beyond What the Eyes Can See (2 Corinthians 5:7)

The Scripture says, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

Walking by sight means allowing visible circumstances to determine our convictions. Walking by faith means allowing God's Word to determine our response, even when our circumstances appear unfavourable.

Faith does not deny the existence of problems. Rather, it refuses to accept those problems as greater than God's power. The believer may see a storm, but faith remembers that Jesus is Lord over the storm.

Practical Application: Do not allow what you see today to cancel what God has promised concerning your tomorrow. Keep your eyes on Christ.

d) Faith Is Necessary to Please God (Hebrews 11:6)

The Bible says, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

Faith is not optional in the Christian life. It is essential to pleasing God. We cannot truly walk with Him while continually doubting His existence, goodness and faithfulness.

Faith draws us closer to God because it makes us depend on Him rather than on our own strength and understanding.

Practical Application: Make faith the foundation of your daily decisions. Trust God in your family, ministry, finances, relationships and personal challenges.

Biblical Example: Abraham (Romans 4:18-21)

Abraham believed God's promise even when his physical circumstances gave him reasons to doubt. He did not stagger at God's promise through unbelief but was strong in faith, giving glory to God. His life demonstrates that genuine faith rests on God's ability rather than human limitations.

2. UNDERSTANDING THE FIERY DARTS OF THE WICKED

Paul describes the enemy's attacks as fiery darts because they are intended to penetrate, injure, weaken and destroy the believer's spiritual stability. These darts may be sudden thoughts, persistent temptations, accusations, fears or circumstances designed to challenge our confidence in God.

The enemy often begins his attack in the mind. He introduces thoughts that contradict Scripture, questions God's goodness and attempts to make believers interpret their circumstances without considering God's promises. If these thoughts are entertained and accepted, they can eventually influence behaviour and weaken spiritual commitment.

a) The Fiery Dart of Doubt (Genesis 3:1-5)

The first recorded temptation in the Bible began with a question: “Yea, hath God said?”

Satan attempted to create uncertainty in Eve's mind concerning God's instruction. He did not begin by openly demanding that she reject God; he first introduced doubt about what God had said.

The enemy still uses this strategy today. He may whisper, “Has God really promised to help you? Does God still care about you? Will His Word really work in your situation?” Such questions are designed to weaken our confidence in God's truth.

Practical Application: Whenever doubt arises, return to the written Word of God. Do not build your convictions on the suggestions of the enemy.

b) The Fiery Dart of Fear (2 Timothy 1:7)

The Bible says, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

Fear can paralyse a believer and prevent the fulfilment of God's purpose. Fear of failure, fear of the future, fear of rejection, fear of sickness and fear of death can become instruments through which the enemy attacks the mind.

However, God has given His children the spirit of power, love and a sound mind. Faith does not mean that we never experience fear; it means that we refuse to allow fear to control our decisions.

Practical Application: When fear comes, declare God's promises over your life and take the next step of obedience. Do not allow fear to make your decisions for you.

c) The Fiery Dart of Temptation (James 1:14-15)

Temptation is one of the weapons through which the enemy seeks to draw believers away from obedience to God. It may come through lust, greed, dishonesty, bitterness, pride, unforgiveness or the desire for immediate gratification.

Temptation often appeals to legitimate human desires but offers sinful ways of satisfying them. Satan wants believers to exchange eternal values for temporary pleasure.

Faith helps us to recognise that God's way is always better than the temporary satisfaction offered by sin.

Practical Application: Guard your heart, avoid situations that encourage sin and depend on the Holy Spirit for strength to overcome temptation.

d) The Fiery Dart of Discouragement and Condemnation (Revelation 12:10; Romans 8:1)

Satan is described as the accuser of the brethren. He reminds believers of their past failures and attempts to convince them that they have no future with God.

There is a difference between the conviction of the Holy Spirit and the condemnation of the enemy. The Holy Spirit exposes sin so that we may repent and return to God. The enemy uses accusations to produce hopelessness and drive us away from God.

Faith reminds us that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. Through genuine repentance, we receive forgiveness and restoration.

Practical Application: Do not allow your past mistakes to define your future. Confess your sins, receive God's forgiveness and continue to walk with Him.

Biblical Example: Jesus in the Wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11)

When Jesus was tempted by Satan, the enemy attacked Him with suggestions that challenged His identity, trust in God and obedience. Jesus responded each time with the Word of God. He did not surrender to temptation or allow the devil's suggestions to control Him. His victory teaches us that the Word of God is essential in overcoming the fiery darts of the enemy.

3. THE SHIELD OF FAITH IS GOD'S PROVISION FOR OUR PROTECTION

God does not send His children into spiritual warfare without providing the necessary equipment. The shield of faith is part of the armour He has made available to every believer. Paul says that with it we shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

The shield does not suggest that the believer will never be attacked. Rather, it provides protection when the attacks come. Our responsibility is to take it up and use it continually. Faith must not be something we exercise only during church services; it must become our daily spiritual posture.

a) Faith Protects the Mind Against Satan's Lies (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)

The enemy often attacks the mind through thoughts, arguments and imaginations that oppose the knowledge of God.

The believer must learn to examine thoughts in the light of Scripture. Not every thought that enters the mind should be accepted as truth. Some thoughts must be rejected because they contradict God's Word.

Faith helps us to hold on to God's truth rather than surrendering to the enemy's deception.

Practical Application: Do not entertain every negative thought. Compare your thoughts with Scripture and reject every suggestion that contradicts God's truth.

b) Faith Protects the Heart Against Discouragement (Psalm 27:13-14)

David declared that he would have fainted unless he had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

Faith gives the believer courage to continue even when the situation is difficult. It prevents temporary disappointments from becoming permanent discouragement.

When answers seem delayed, faith reminds us that God has not abandoned us. When doors close, faith reminds us that God remains able to make a way.

Practical Application: Do not abandon your prayer life or spiritual commitment because of delayed answers. Continue trusting God and waiting patiently for His intervention.

c) Faith Enables Us to Resist the Devil (1 Peter 5:8-9)

Peter instructs believers to be sober and vigilant because the devil walks about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. He then commands them to resist him, steadfast in the faith.

The devil is not defeated by fear, compromise or spiritual carelessness. We resist him by standing firmly in our faith and refusing to surrender to his schemes.

Faith gives us the courage to say no to sin, reject deception and remain committed to Christ.

Practical Application: Be spiritually alert. Do not compromise your convictions to gain temporary advantages or avoid temporary discomfort.

d) Faith Gives Us Victory Over the World (1 John 5:4)

The Bible says, “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”

The world presents values, pressures and temptations that are often contrary to the will of God. Faith enables believers to overcome these pressures without losing their spiritual identity.

A believer who lives by faith is not controlled by popular opinion, worldly standards or the fear of rejection. Such a person remains committed to God's truth.

Practical Application: Let your faith influence your choices, relationships, conduct and priorities. Do not exchange your Christian convictions for the approval of the world.

Biblical Example: The Three Hebrew Children (Daniel 3:16-28)

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to bow to Nebuchadnezzar's golden image. They declared that God was able to deliver them from the fiery furnace, but even if He did not, they would not worship the king's image. Their faith was not dependent on the outcome. God delivered them, and the fire could not destroy them. Their experience demonstrates that faith gives believers courage to stand for God even under extreme pressure.

4. HOW TO DEVELOP FAITH THAT EXTINGUISHES FIERY DARTS

Faith must be developed and strengthened. A believer cannot afford to remain spiritually weak in a world filled with temptations, deception and opposition. Just as physical strength grows through proper nourishment and exercise, spiritual faith grows through the Word, prayer, obedience and fellowship with God.

The shield of faith must be taken up continually. We must not wait until the enemy launches an attack before we begin to develop our confidence in God. The time to build strong faith is every day.

a) Build Your Faith Through God's Word (Romans 10:17)

Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. The Word reveals God's nature, His promises, His power and His faithfulness.

A believer who is ignorant of Scripture will find it difficult to distinguish truth from deception. But the more we know God's Word, the more equipped we become to recognise and reject the lies of the enemy.

Practical Application: Read the Bible daily, study it carefully, listen to sound biblical teaching and meditate on God's promises.

b) Strengthen Your Faith Through Prayer (Jude 20)

Jude instructs believers to build themselves up on their most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost.

Prayer strengthens our fellowship with God and helps us remain spiritually sensitive. Through prayer, we express our dependence on God and receive grace to stand firm.

Prayer is not merely a religious activity; it is a vital part of our spiritual defence. A prayerless believer becomes vulnerable to spiritual weakness.

Practical Application: Establish a consistent prayer life. Pray in the Spirit, worship God and bring your fears, challenges and needs before Him.

c) Exercise Your Faith Through Obedience (James 2:17)

The Bible teaches that faith without works is dead. Genuine faith produces corresponding actions.

If we believe God, our conduct should demonstrate that belief. Noah demonstrated his faith by building the ark. Abraham demonstrated his faith by obeying God's instruction. The believer's faith must likewise be expressed through obedience.

We cannot claim to trust God while deliberately refusing to obey His Word.

Practical Application: Act on God's instructions. Forgive those who offend you, live in holiness, serve faithfully and obey God's Word even when it is inconvenient.

d) Maintain Fellowship with Other Believers (Hebrews 10:24-25)

God designed the Church as a place where believers encourage, strengthen and build one another up. Isolation can make a Christian vulnerable to discouragement and spiritual weakness.

Through fellowship, worship, Bible teaching, prayer and mutual encouragement, our faith is strengthened. We must not withdraw from the fellowship of God's people.

Practical Application: Be committed to your local church. Participate in worship, Bible study, prayer meetings and other activities that strengthen your spiritual life.

Biblical Example: The Woman with the Issue of Blood (Mark 5:25-34)

The woman who had suffered for twelve years believed that if she could touch the garment of Jesus, she would be healed. Despite her weakness and the limitations surrounding her, she pressed through the crowd and touched Jesus. Her faith brought her into contact with the healing power of Christ. Her story teaches us to keep trusting Jesus and to approach Him with confidence, even when our circumstances have lasted for a long time.

5. THE VICTORY OF FAITH OVER EVERY FIERY DART

The promise of Ephesians 6:16 is clear: “Ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” Notice that Scripture says “all”, not some. God's provision is sufficient for every spiritual attack that the enemy launches against His children.

This does not mean that believers will never experience hardship, temptation or opposition. It means that none of these things has the authority to separate us from Christ or compel us to abandon our faith. We may be attacked, but we do not have to be defeated. We may face pressure, but we can remain steadfast.

a) Faith Overcomes Fear and Anxiety (Isaiah 41:10)

God assures His people that they should not fear because He is with them, that He will strengthen and help them.

Fear loses its controlling power when we become conscious of God's presence. Faith does not always remove the difficult situation immediately, but it gives us confidence that we are not facing it alone.

Practical Application: Whenever anxiety arises, pray, meditate on God's promises and remind yourself that the Lord is with you.

b) Faith Overcomes Trials and Afflictions (James 1:2-4)

The Bible teaches that the trying of our faith works patience. Trials do not have to destroy our spiritual lives; they can become opportunities for spiritual growth.

Faith helps us remain steadfast when life becomes difficult. Instead of abandoning God during trials, we learn to trust Him more deeply.

Practical Application: Do not interpret every trial as evidence that God has abandoned you. Remain faithful and allow God to develop perseverance and maturity in you.

c) Faith Overcomes the Accusations of the Enemy (Romans 8:33-34)

The enemy may remind us of our failures, but the believer's confidence rests in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Christ died, rose again and intercedes for us.

When we repent and walk in the light of God's Word, we must not allow the enemy to keep us under the burden of condemnation. Our confidence is not in our perfection but in Christ's righteousness and saving grace.

Practical Application: When accusations arise, remember your position in Christ. Confess your sins when necessary, receive God's forgiveness and continue in obedience.

d) Faith Secures Our Victory in Christ (Romans 8:37)

The Scripture declares that we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.

Our victory is not based on human strength, financial resources, social influence or physical ability. It is rooted in our relationship with Jesus Christ. The One who lives in us is greater than the forces that oppose us.

Faith enables us to stand in that victory and refuse to surrender to the enemy.

Practical Application: Face every challenge with confidence in Christ. Refuse to confess defeat when God's Word has given you grounds for hope and perseverance.

Biblical Example: David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17:32-50)

David faced Goliath when the entire army of Israel was afraid. He did not measure the battle by the size of the giant but by the greatness of the God he served. He declared that the battle belonged to the Lord and went forward in faith. Goliath fell, and Israel received victory. David's experience teaches us that faith focuses on God's power rather than the size of the opposition.

CONCLUSION

Faith is the believer's shield against the fiery darts of the wicked. The enemy may launch attacks through fear, doubt, temptation, discouragement, condemnation and difficult circumstances, but we do not have to surrender to these attacks. God has provided everything we need to stand firm. When our faith is rooted in His Word, strengthened through prayer and demonstrated through obedience, we become spiritually equipped to overcome the schemes of the enemy. The shield of faith must never be abandoned, because spiritual warfare is not occasional; it is part of the Christian journey.

Beloved, take up the shield of faith today. Do not allow the enemy's lies to become your convictions, his threats to become your fears or his temptations to become your downfall. Trust God when you understand and when you do not understand. Believe His promises when circumstances are favourable and when they are difficult. The same God who delivered the three Hebrew children, strengthened David and sustained Abraham is still faithful today. You can stand, you can overcome and you can remain victorious through faith in Jesus Christ.

PRAYER POINTS

1. Father, strengthen my faith and establish my heart firmly in Your Word, in Jesus name.

2. Every arrow of doubt and unbelief fired against my life, be extinguished by the power of God, in Jesus name.

3. Lord, deliver me from every spirit of fear, anxiety and discouragement, in Jesus name.

4. I receive grace to overcome every temptation and remain faithful to God, in Jesus name.

5. Every accusation of the enemy against my destiny, be silenced by the blood of Jesus, in Jesus name.

6. Father, let my faith remain strong in the midst of trials and difficult circumstances, in Jesus name.

7. I receive spiritual strength to resist the devil and stand firm in the faith, in Jesus name.

8. Every weapon fashioned against my spiritual growth and progress shall not prosper, in Jesus name.

9. Lord, help me to grow continually in Your Word, prayer and obedience, in Jesus name.

10. By faith, I overcome every fiery dart of the wicked and walk in the victory of Christ, in Jesus name.

PROPHETIC DECLARATIONS

1. You shall not be defeated by the fiery darts of the enemy.

2. Your faith shall remain strong in every season of life.

3. Every arrow of fear and doubt against your life is extinguished.

4. You shall overcome every temptation that comes your way.

5. Your heart shall not fail in the day of adversity.

6. You shall stand firm in God's promises and never surrender to the enemy.

7. Every accusation raised against your destiny shall be silenced.

8. You shall grow stronger in faith and deeper in your walk with God.

9. You shall overcome the pressures and temptations of this world.

10. You are more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ who loves you. In the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.